[For a moment it's all Alice can do to breath beneath the loamy soil. Inhale, exhale and drag together the pieces of her scattered thoughts as the soil crowds around her.

What was it she had told Lieutenant Vitter? That she was used to drowning above ground? For a moment the memory of resting against her older sister as she struggled to breath comes rushing back -- Sophice, Elise, what had happened to them? What had happened to her men? Where has she even been last?

Fight.

Without further thought she reacts, grasping above her and wrapping a gloved fist around whatever she can. She jerks and pulls, pulling smaller roots near completely loose in her fervor to make it to the surface.

To anyone else above it's either a terrifying sight or a comedic one depending on their temperament. A gloved hand is followed swiftly by a crown of bright blond hair. Her teeth are gritted as she breaks through the rest of the soil and shortly a set of fierce blue eyes settle on whoever is nearest by. She looks like she's ready to fist fight anyone who comes near her.

Then she abruptly stops and blinks. She studies whoever it is and then just as fierce as her gaze had been before it immediately softens. She lets go of a huge breath and more or less slumps there halfway out of the dirt like some kind of groundhog that gave up immediately when it saw it's shadow.]

What in the world is going on.

[In Springstar there is plenty to arrest Alice's attention. She does attend whatever talks she can and seems extremely focused on them, particularly Cyrus' rousing speech. She doesn't miss the sad look he ends off with though and seems to be quietly thinking over it. It was very much what she expected from the speech of one who led but the crowd seems to hold no desire to be roused from it. Perhaps the talk of victories was overstated?

What ends up arresting Alice's attention the most though is the score of militants stepping out to the training grounds. Her own outfit is obviously some form of uniform as well with it's long coat and the insignia on her upper arm. She looks downright longingly towards where the militants depart to, only realizing anyone else is close by once they're gone. She looks more than a little sheepish before she murmurs:]

... I don't imagine they would let me train with them, would they.

[It would do her so much good to get in there and spar some. Even if most of those militants tower over her in size.]

[In Highstorm Alice is just as attentive when she shows up to those gatherings. Amusingly when Yima does start taking bearer's hands and eventually does the same with Alice the blonde herself looks friendly but not precisely awed by her. She stands at ready attention like she would for anyone higher up the military ladder. She even nods as the woman speaks but doesn't seek to ask her questions or stop her after.

Once that's over though and others have dispersed to smaller gatherings Alice herself takes up a spot. She's not very good at general socializing when she has something on her mind. When she's offered a drink she makes a 'stop' motion with her hand.]

I'm sorry, I can't drink alcohol.

[Later though before she leaves Highstorm Alice decides to take a moment at Benny's. It seems to be extremely popular considering how many locals direct her towards it. It is very busy but it's also very rowdy. Alice has mostly watched the scuffles that have ended up cropping up as she ate but once she's finished she casts a glance over the way of whoever is running the place behind the bar that night.]

Would you like me to stop any of this?

[Meaning yes, she'll jump into the middle of these fights is someone needs throwing out. So far it hasn't gotten that bad, mostly minor arguments and the like.]

[Alice is chiefly getting to know the lay of the land so to speak. From Springstar to Highstorm and now onto Alenroux the trip has gone alright so far. The locals have been fairly open with her given her lack of faction allegiance just yet and while earlier she was in a state of deep thought it seems that she has sat her thinking aside for now so she can talk to the locals. Most seem to come away with the opinion that she's "an overly serious woman but very friendly and polite" which really is the best boilerplate description of Alice ever spoken.

Rather than being solely bound indoors though Alice actually goes out at night specifically when she's told of the monsters outside toward the north end of the island. At least she does ask for information first before she goes out? That's a plus when it comes to her!]

Shadow creatures ...

[With familiar voices even. Alice mulls on that information a moment as she stands outside the doors of where she had been staying here in Alenroux. After a moment of rolling it around in her mind she perks a brow up.]

A sword should do the trick, maybe?

[Feel free to find Alice wherever you like. If there's a fight going on she'll probably jump in and try to help out. If you want to debate the good and bad between going Meridian or Zenith then please do! Maybe you just want to call her short and try to bully her? Feel free! PMs are open for any plotting or questions.]